The old bridge, the cobbled bazaar, the Kravice waterfalls — and the practicalities of crossing the border by private car.
Mostar sits in the south of Bosnia & Herzegovina, two hours inland from the Croatian coast. The Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva river is one of those buildings that lives up to the photos: a single graceful arch of pale stone, with cliff divers in summer and the call to prayer floating across the canyon.
It's an easy day out from both Split and Dubrovnik if you have a private car and the right paperwork.
Drive times and routes
- Split → Mostar: about 2 h 45 min (180 km), via the Imotski crossing.
- Dubrovnik → Mostar: about 2 h 15 min (140 km), via the Metković crossing.
The drive itself is part of the day. The Bosnian side reveals limestone canyons, river valleys and small village restaurants worth a stop on the way back.
Border crossing: what you need
- EU / UK / US / Canada / Australia / NZ passport holders: no visa required for a day trip. Bring your physical passport — not an ID card.
- Children: a passport is required regardless of age.
- Car: as a passenger in our vehicle, none of this is your problem. We carry vehicle insurance valid for Bosnia and the EU green card.
At the border the driver hands over passports for everyone, the officer scans them, and you are usually through in 5–15 minutes. On peak summer weekends it can take longer at Metković — we cross at off-peak times when possible.
What to see in Mostar
Plan to spend about 3 hours in the old town. It is small but rewarding.
- Stari Most — walk across it slowly, then find a viewpoint on the riverbank below for the photo. The original bridge was destroyed in 1993 and reopened in 2004, rebuilt with the same Ottoman techniques.
- Old Bazaar (Kujundžiluk) — copper coffee sets, hand-painted ceramics, Turkish lamps. Haggling is expected and friendly.
- Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque — climb the minaret for the best low-angle view of the bridge.
- War tunnels and damage — even rebuilt buildings show pockmarks. A guide can add context if you want it; we can arrange a local English-speaking guide.
- Lunch — try ćevapi (grilled minced meat sausages with onion and pita) or burek in a sklepara. Tufahija for dessert if you're sweet-toothed.
Add Kravice Waterfalls
Most travellers prefer the combined Mostar + Kravice day, especially in summer.
- Kravice is a wide horseshoe of waterfalls about 40 minutes south of Mostar, near the border back to Croatia.
- You can swim below the falls (forbidden at Plitvice and Krka).
- Best in May, June, September — high water and tolerable crowds.
- Allow 1.5–2 hours including the walk down from the parking lot and the swim.
A typical day with both stops looks like this:
- 08:00 Leave Split or Dubrovnik
- 10:15 Border crossing
- 11:00 Arrive Mostar, walk the old town
- 13:30 Lunch in Mostar
- 14:30 Drive 40 min to Kravice
- 15:00 Swim, picnic
- 17:00 Drive back to the coast
- 19:00–19:30 Back at your accommodation
What to bring
- Passport (every guest, including kids)
- Cash in euros or KM (convertible mark) — Bosnia is moving toward card acceptance but cash is still king in small bazaars
- Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel if Kravice is on the plan
- Sun hat — Mostar can be 5–8 °C hotter than the coast in July
- Modest layer for visiting mosques (cover shoulders and knees)
Best season
- Late May through September for Kravice swims.
- April, October for Mostar without the heat or the day-trip crowds; the bridge feels almost private.
- Avoid August midday — the old town funnel gets very hot and very busy.
Why private
The bus tour version of Mostar exists. It also includes 50 other people on your schedule, a fixed lunch place that probably isn't the best in town, and zero flexibility at Kravice.
With a private driver:
- You set the timing — we leave when you are ready
- You pick the restaurant — locals, not bus drops
- You choose how long to swim
- Border crossings are smoother because we know the off-peak windows
A standard sedan for 1–3 guests or a van for up to 8 covers most groups; see our Mostar day tour or get a custom quote for a larger group.
If Mostar is your only day across the border, do it. If you have two days, combine it with Sarajevo — a serious city with a fascinating, layered history — for a richer Bosnia chapter to your Croatia trip.
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